Mobile phones, eating, smoking: Worst driving habits revealed

More than 40 percent of Generation Y motorists use their phones while behind the wheel, according to a new study.

In fact, only 20 percent of Gen Y drivers claimed not to engage in any bad behaviour while in their cars in the survey conducted by finder.com.au.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Baby Boomers are the least likely to distract themselves on Australian roads, with 41 percent saying they behaved responsibly.

Many drivers still use their mobiles behind the wheel. ()

However, away from generation game rivalries, there were a few bad habits shared by all Aussies.

A whopping 38 percent of respondents eat takeaway in their vehicle, 31 percent have driven in thongs, and 20 percent admitted to sending a text while driving.

Rolling through the bad habits, 14 per cent of people said they've had a smoke while driving. Of that figure, Generation X was most likely to light up, while Baby Boomers were least partial to an in-car cigarette.

Bluetooth phone connectivity has filtered down to even entry-level hatchbacks, but 27 percent of respondents answer their phone and put it to their ear on the move.

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On a similarly dangerous track, a not-inconsiderable 14 percent of drivers steer with their knees on occasion.

The survey found Aussie motorists are guilty of microsleeping, applying make-up, changing clothes, watching movies and reading books on the roads, too - although the percentage of motorists who admitted to such crimes were small.

Gen Y aren't the only ones behaving badly while driving. ()

Generation Y was most likely to have played with their phones on the road, with 41 percent admitting to the practice.

Splitting the figures by gender, women were more likely to drive in thongs and to eat behind the wheel than men.

There were also some interesting discrepancies from state-to-state: Western Australians were particularly partial to driving in thongs, and New South Wales drivers were twice as likely to having a microsleep than the national average.

Although they were niche responses, people admitted to dangerous activities like having sex on the move, and driving on the wrong side of the road.

"If you're deemed to have been driving recklessly or engaging in risky behaviour behind the wheel and you are in an accident, you may not be able to claim the damage on your insurance," said Bessie Hassan, finder money expert.

Given its role as a policy comparison site, it's not surprising to see finder.com.au pulling the issue back to insurance.

"Comprehensive car insurance also won't cover damage that's been caused by illegal activities such as texting and driving."